GALILEO, satellite radionavigation programme: development phase, joint undertaking

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mr Norbert GLANTE (PES, D) with a number of non-binding amendments. On the question of Administrative Board of the Joint Undertaking, MEPs are saying that it may seek the advice of an Advisory panel of expert business developers to be established in order to offer impartial advice to prepare the ground for the Galileo Joint Undertaking. The Commission is proposing that the seat of the Galileo Joint Undertaking would be in Brussels. However, the European Parliament want to see the seat decided with reference to the taxation in the potential country of location. It also emphasises that the Joint Undertaking should not exclude the possibility of using the Galileo system for military application for peace-keeping missions. With regard to the funding of the Joint Undertaking, it shall be largely financed from the general budget of the Union and shall respect in its internal procedures the principles applicable to the European Institutions. Candidate countries shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the Joint Undertaking through the appropriate instruments foreseen in the budget. In addition, a monitoring committee shall be set up in which each Member State is represented. Relations between the monitoring committee and the Joint Undertaking shall be governed by the Statutes. Lastly, the Joint Undertaking shall publish and organise an invitation to tender in 2002-2003 for the next phases of Galileo.�